What a brilliant thread! I have Beau who is 11 weeks tomorrow and can relate to alot of this!Atemas it sounds like you've come such a long way with Red & Sky, lovely to read your story.
Well another first here today which I have to record. I am actually sitting in my sitting room and both dogs are fast asleep in their sitting room beds. DH has started this week taking Red out first thing with Sky for a walk. I opened the door earlier and both dogs were sat there waiting to be 'invited' in (we have always done that with Sky) .
I think we may have . They spent a lot of time together yesterday, mostly resting/sleeping but the rest of the time, Red was much more respectful of Sky. She did (understandably) initiate play a few times and Sky was up for it. When she got too excited we stopped her and she is beginning to know That enough is enough. Yes @Plum's mum - I feel bad for questioning and doubting him but it has taken a week short of 5 months to get to this stage - it's been really hard and I have found it very upsetting. Never thought it would be so difficult .
We see and experience lovely, calm, sensible Labs - no one tells us that the pups are looooooonatics!
@Boogie, that is so true! In my head, when I was planning to get my own pup, the images in my head were of the grown up labs that all our pups had become, soft, soppy, loving, gentle and biddable. Then Plum arrives, all 8 weeks of puppyness, and bring on the crazy horses!
I must confess that my Cavaliers were very lively too - but all the behaviours which are difficult in a lively, happy Lab are simply cute in a small, friendly dog!
Hard work really does pay off - today we went to a coffee shop in the town centre and Bailey actually settled under the table, a leg and his head wrapped around one of my feet and laying across the other foot....I got to drink my milkshake (hot day and I hate coffee!) and eat a slice of cake in a relaxed state - in fact my OH caused me more stress than Bailey today!!!! So pleased for you @Atemas that Sky and Red are living together in happiness now
Thank you @Samantha Jones, it is coming - just need Red to be a bit more respectful of Sky when she is resting but she is learning. Pleased your training is paying off and that Bailey was such a good boy in the coffee shop. We have two of the grandchildren staying and last evening, I took them and Red for a walk to the village shop. We bought ice creams and sat on the bench to eat them. Couldn't have envisaged doing that with Red a few weeks ago . She also settled well for the rest of the evening even though she finds it so so exciting having them here - her whole body is constantly wagging .
Took Red for some fun scentwork at a local trainer yesterday. There were two other dogs (a beagle and a spaniel) and owners. It was good fun and Red very quickly picked up what was asked of her .
At yesterday's fun class doing some targeted work. This was Red's first stand on a book with her front legs - I can see it's not very good as she didn't know what she was supposed to do (I wasn't sure either ). We have done a bit more today in the garden (so no harness or lead) using a little baby stool I have and she was great - starting to move her back end around whilst her front legs were on the stool - she learns quickly.
